Summary

  • Cook 244* - highest score v Australia

  • Smith drops Cook on 66 & 153

  • Cook & Broad (56) add 100 for 9th wkt

  • Root 61, Woakes 26, Bairstow 22

  • Lyon, Hazlewood & Cummins - 3 wkts

  • Australia lead 3-0 in five-Test series

  1. Eng 276-4published at 89 overs

    Hazlewood, the pick of Australia's bowlers in this match, tempts Jonny Bairstow into a silly waft outside off stump but luckily for the batsman there is no edge.

    England's bowlers used their cutters to great effect in the Australia innings and now Hazlewood tries an off-cutter of his own but Bairstow has it covered. A maiden.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 02:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    #bbccricket

    Chris Solman: What gets me about that Malan wicket is that if that was an outside edge it would have gone to second slip. Does that mean if he’d been caught behind he wouldn’t have walked claiming he’d not hit it?

    Dawid MalanImage source, Getty Images
  3. Eng 276-4published at 88 overs

    Trail by 51

    Geoffrey is in the middle of a rant on TMS about the calamity that was Dawid Malan's dismissal earlier. The TV replays have shown that the ball actually hit Malan outside the line so add that to the fact the batsman hit the ball, it wasn't the best of decisions from the umpire.

    On the field Jonny Bairstow is served up a gift by Jackson Bird as the bowler bowls one down the leg side. The England man flicks it down to fine leg but almost makes a mess of it by not getting enough on the ball and offering a catch but Tim Paine's dive is in vain. Bird has now conceded 19 runs in his four overs with the new ball.

  4. Eng 270-4published at 87 overs

    Trail by 57

    Jonny Bairstow is the quickest, busiest runner in this England team and he clips off his pads and rushes to the non-striker's end and back for a couple. Alastair Cook has been at the crease for all 87 overs of this innings so may have to be a little careful as the Yorkshireman looks to run hard.

    Josh Hazlewood corrects his line for the rest of the over and Bairstow can't add any more to the total.

  5. Postpublished at 02:16 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Geoffrey Boycott
    Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

    For England to get a decent lead, Cook's the main guy. He has got to seal one end. If he just stays there til tea or after, England will have a lead. If he gets out, there's a danger of them all getting out.

  6. Eng 268-4published at 86 overs

    Cook 138, Bairstow 16

    I am surprised Australia have twice given Jackson Bird the new ball in this innings, rather than Pat Cummins, and once again it is the man replacing Mitchell Starc bowling after lunch.

    Alastair Cook has seemed to have his medium-fast right-arm bowling covered so far in this innings and again he looks in very little danger here. Cook blocks the first five balls and then thinks "that's enough of that" and drives through mid-on for four to end the over.

  7. Postpublished at 02:10 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Anyway, let's get back to the live cricket. For what feels like the millionth time in this series, the next hour is crucial...

    Alastair CookImage source, PA
  8. get involved

    Caption competitionpublished at 02:07 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Peter HandscombImage source, EPA

    Send your suggestions in using #bbccricket, text 81111 or email tms@bbc.co.uk.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 02:03 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Text 81111

    Re. Paul. Conversion rates do matter, 60s/70s don't win matches. Root is incredibly consistent, but he rarely makes a match winning contribution compared to Smith.

    Neil

    Agree with exasperated Dan. The longer Root stays in the better as one wicket often brings two. He needs to build big partnerships with those around him and dig in and when necessary and play a proper Test innings.

    Nail-biting Dan, Milton Keynes

  10. Postpublished at 02:01 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    That Dawid Malan dismissal has scuppered the debate I had lined up about Joe Root's conversion rate this lunchtime.

    I will though point out a couple of stats.

    England have lost eight of their last nine away Test matches and drawn the other.

    Joe Root has reached 50 and got out in seven of those and all of them have ended in defeat. The one time he made 100, the first Test in India last year, England drew the match.

    Is his failure to convert costing England?

  11. Postpublished at 01:56 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Mitchell StarcImage source, Getty Images

    Injured Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc on ABC: "It's tough work for bowling. It's a beautiful ground but the wicket is flat. You want to get as much as you can out of the new ball, or when it's reversing."

  12. Postpublished at 01:54 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Like Mitchell Starc says there in typical forthright fashion, there have been moments in this series where England have been on top but Australia have turned the game around to win.

    Joe Root's side really need to make sure the current partnership of Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow stands up so that another good position is not wasted.

    England still trail Australia by 63 runs.

  13. Postpublished at 01:51 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Injured Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc on ABC: "Everyone thought it was going to be a closer series. There have been stages where England have been in front of the game, but we have found ways to turn it around. The conversation would be different if they had three bowlers of 90mph.

    "England's senior players have stood up over the past couple of days. Cook has shown his class. Our boys have to stand up to bowl them out."

  14. Postpublished at 01:50 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    My personal cricketing efforts have been a disappointment to say the least and you will probably have batted at a much higher level than me, but I thought it was the case a batsman always knows when he has hit the ball?

    Clearly if Malan felt something he would have called for a review, but it is strange how this can happen twice in one innings.

  15. Postpublished at 01:49 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Bairstow has looked good since he has moved up the order in this series.

    When he bats with a batsman at the other end he plays straight and hits in the 'V'. When he plays with the bowlers it is the opposite.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 01:47 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Text 81111

    I see Jonny B has picked himself up a nice new Aussie bat sponsor whilst down under. Has played with a blank bat until now. Always busy is our Jonny.

    Kier

  17. Postpublished at 01:42 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    TMS tweetImage source, Twitter
  18. Postpublished at 01:42 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Thanks Jack.

    Like many of you, I have been watching that session in complete amazement.

    I was staggered yesterday when James Vince failed to review an lbw when he hit the ball and today's from Malan was an even bigger inside edge!

  19. Postpublished at 01:38 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Play should get back under way at 02:10 GMT. Lunch for the players is also my cue to head off for some food to sustain me through the night.

    Here's Matt Henry to pick through the bones of the first session and guide you during the second.

    Catch you again later.

  20. Postpublished at 01:37 Greenwich Mean Time 28 December 2017

    Glenn McGrath
    Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    There is still work to do for England but I would say it was even in that session.

    After England's day yesterday you would say they are still slightly in front but if they lose a couple of wickets after lunch then it will be right in the balance.